Video input switching and signal processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus integrates a plurality of television signal sources into a cohesive audio/video environment. Internal provisions include a standard broadcast-frequency tuner, cable tuner as well as other optional inputs such as for a direct-broadcast satellite, previously recorded video material, etc. In the preferred embodiment, means are provided whereby a main or primary program channel may be linked to additional channels providing supplementary information to enhance resolution, sound quality, or to facilitate special effects.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/025,838, filed Feb. 11, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/822,397, filed Mar. 20, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No.7,917,922, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/488,691, filed Jun. 8, 1995, now abandoned. The entire content ofeach application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to video equipment, and moreparticularly, to a converter arrangement operative to configure aplurality of input sources into an integrated operating environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Television viewers are often faced with complicated wiring requirementsfor integrating the various signal sources into their systems. Thissituation was made worse in part by the Federal Cable Regulation Act of1992, which caused some cable systems to discontinue carriage of localBroadcast stations that insist on receiving a per-subscriber fee toallow retransmission of their signals. As a result, cable subscribers onthese systems must provide their own antennas in order to receivesignals from these broadcast stations.

With the availability of signals from direct-broadcast satellites, manyconsumers will consequently have three different signal sources tochoose from when viewing, with the added confusion that all three ofthese sources may provide channels with the same numerical designation.A further complication is the integration of cable converters with thepublic switched telephone network, for billing special event programmingand various other pay-per-view schemes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises an apparatus for integration of a plurality oftelevision signal sources into a single system. Internal provisionsinclude a standard broadcast-frequency tuner as well as a cable tuner.The cable tuner may optionally include provisions for a descramblermodule for premium or pay-per-view services, which may be implementedeither as an internal circuit board, an internal plug-in module, or anexternal plug-in unit. A third input is provided as adirect-broadcast-satellite tuner, which itself may be implemented as aninternal circuit board or as an internal or external plug-in unit. As isthe case for the cable tuner, provisions are included for a separatedescrambler unit implemented as an internal circuit board or as aninternal or external plug-in unit. As a further option, additionalinputs may be provided for other uses, such as VCR playback signals.Outputs are provided both for baseband audio and video, and also throughan RF modulator.

A system controller, which accepts control signals from a standardinfrared-type hand-held remote-controller, handles such tasks as inputselection and channel switching, and allows the user to reassign channeldesignations at will, even including input switching as part of thechannel selection. The controller also integrates signals for anoptional telephone interface, for pay-per-view billing or other uses.When required, the controller is further capable of enablingdescrambling circuitry as appropriate for each signal source. In likemanner, specialized modules (as, for example, MPEG decoders and thelike) may be enabled or have their operating parameters configured so asto process digitally encoded signals. In a preferred embodiment, theunit may be provided with additional tuner provisions associated withany of the various inputs, for receiving signals in which a primarysignal is on one channel, and a secondary signal is on a differentchannel, as, for example, in the case of a stereoscopic broadcast systemin which one channel carried the “left eye” signal, and a second channelcarried the “right-eye” signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates the main features of theinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram which shows signal separation andrecombination means associated with providing supplemental programinformation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is explained by way of reference to FIG. 1, which showsthe main features of a system having input switching provisions.Broadcast-frequency signals 2 from a standard antenna are received atthe broadcast tuner 4. These signals are demodulated into baseband audioand video signals, which then are provided to the audio/video switchingmatrix 22. Cable system signals 6 are provided to the cable tuner 8,which as an option may include a descrambler module 10; this may beimplemented either as an internal circuit board, an internal plug-inmodule, or an external plug-in unit, and this unit would be compatiblewith the scrambling system used on the particular cable system.Depending upon the circumstances, one or more of the various tuners mayinterface to a decoder to receive other specialized information such asteletext or closed-captioning, though not referenced in the figures.

Optional satellite-receiver signals 12 are provided to the satellitetuner 14, which, like the cable tuner, also may include an optionaldescrambler unit 16, implemented through a similar range of methods asdescribed above for the cable tuner. In some installations, thesatellite receiver service would include its own tuner and/ordescrambler means, in which case the signals would be input to the cableconverter through one of several direct-connection inputs (not shown).These inputs would also allow for the integration of other sources, suchas VCR playback signals. All of these input sources are demodulated andprovided to the audio/video switching matrix as baseband audio and videosignals, enabling signal routing within the audio/video switching matrixto be implemented as a baseband video “bus.” The selected signal fromthe switching matrix is provided at the output 24; these signals arealso optionally provided to an RF modulator 26, for output as modulatedsignals 28.

In the preferred embodiment, the system provides for the association ofone channel with one or more other channels carrying supplementalinformation. For example, one channel might carry the “left-eye” view ofa stereoscopic signal, while a second channel carried the “right-eye”view. Such additional channels may alternatively provide the followingtypes of supplemental information, though the entire range of availableinformation is by no means limited to this list:

-   -   picture enhancement information (as suggested by several of the        proposed HDTV systems) to provide wide-screen or other effects;    -   video-game related information, including information related to        additional players;    -   digital data, such as statistical information about players in a        sporting event or pricing/account information associated with a        shopping channel;    -   additional audio information, including information which        provides higher fidelity, stereophonic/surround-sound effects,        foreign language audio, “sing-along” lyrics to accompany a        popular music concert, etc.    -   teletext or closed-captioning information.

In this embodiment of the invention, a primary channel will typicallyearly “primary” program information along with additional informationused by the system for directing a second tuner to a secondary channel;other channels could be similarly associated. The information relating aprimary channel to one or more secondary channels carrying supplementalinformation may be derived in various ways. For example, the primarychannel may carry a pointer to the additional channel(s), for example,in a subcarrier, or as part of synchronization as during verticalretrace. Such a pointer may be carried more or less continuously by theprimary channel, or may be broadcast more infrequently, for example, atthe start of a program. As an aid in the scrambling and/or encryption ofa program, information relating the programs may be downloaded andlocally stored on an authorized basis. As a further measure, a“channel-hopping” scheme may be used, wherein different related channelsare used at different times, with only authorized viewers being providedwith the overall plan.

As an alternative to the broadcasting of information relating channels,codes may be published in a format similar to the currently availableVCR Plus system now in use for VCR programming. That is, in addition toa code which contains start/stop times and a single channel number, thesame or a different code may also contain multiple channelsdesignations, certain of which provide the supplementary information. Asin the current implementation of VCR Plus, such code may be entered inthe system's hand-held remote control for reception by the receiver 30depicted in FIG. 1. Other means for receiving and storing these codesare also possible, including downloading from a personal computer, andso forth. Regardless of the technique used to derive the additionalprogramming information, on-screen programming techniques may be used toenable a user to program in the information so as to label it, forexample, to designate a particular channel of the decoder to identifythe station call letters or to provide more descriptive information.

As shown in FIG. 2, these features may be implemented with a signalseparator 52, feeding primary and secondary signals to individual tuners54A and 54B interfaced to an optional descrambler 10. A signalrecombiner 56 is preferably used prior to the audio/video switchingmatrix 24, providing a combined signal output at 24. It will beappreciated by those of skill in the art of audio/video mixing andcontrol that other circuit implementations may be used to carry out thebroad goal of the invention to integrate multiple inputs to provide acohesive enjoyment environment. For example, if desired, provisions maybe included for an additional internal or external plug-in module (notshown), with associated outputs, to provide modified signals for thesespecial purposes. In addition, the system may be adapted to providemultiple outputs enabling a user to record the separate programsassociated with all participating channels for subsequent playback. Suchplayback may occur, for example, through the system comprising theinvention, through separate inputs and using single recombiner 56 shownin FIG. 2 where advantageous.

The operation of the entire unit is controlled by a system controller32. This controller may receive input signals from an infraredremote-control receiver 30, or from any of a variety of user inputdevices, such as keyboards or computer interfaces (not shown). Inaddition, it is capable of communicating with the public switchedtelephone network, through an optional telephone interface (not shown),enabling the cable converter unit to interface with systems whichprovide pay-per-view services or other specialized billing andprogram-ordering schemes.

Another feature of the invention is the ability to manipulate channelassignments by way of the system controller. For example, the user maychoose to assign cable converter channels 1, 2, and 3 to broadcastchannels 2, 4, and 7; the user might choose to assign cable converterchannel 4 to cable system channel 40, and cable converter channel 5 todirect-broadcast satellite channel 15. In this way, the user is able toselect any channel line-up desired, including the channels selected fromall sources available in any order, and with any channel numericaldesignation. Although not shown, it is to be understood that systemcontroller 32 interfaces to an appropriate memory device for storingthese channel assignments, including the user-defined designations.

In an alternative embodiment, optional MPEG decoders or other digitalsignal processors (not shown) may be enabled and/or have their operatingparameters configured under control of the system controller, using asimilar modular approach to that described herein above with referenceto descrambler modules.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video viewing system, comprising: a systemcontroller and a display device disposed at a viewer location; an inputfor receiving information at the system controller regarding a viewingpreference; a video program switching unit controlled by the systemcontroller; a plurality of video program inputs to the video programswitching unit, including a first input for receiving a primary digitalvideo program with a pointer to a second input carrying supplementalinformation directly related to the primary digital video program; andwherein the controller is operative to perform the following functions:(a) display the primary digital video program on the display device and,upon the occurrence of the pointer in the primary digital video program,(b) cause the video program switching unit to automatically display thesupplemental information on the display device without any operatorintervention in accordance with the viewing preference.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the supplemental information is HDTV, wide-screen, orother picture-enhancement information.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe supplemental information relates to one or more players in a videogame.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the supplemental informationincludes information about a sporting event.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the supplemental information includes pricing or accountinformation associated with a shopping channel.
 6. The system of claim1, wherein the supplemental information includes audio informationproviding higher fidelity or surround-sound effects.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the supplemental information includes text orclosed-captioning information.
 8. The system of claim 1, furtherincluding a hand-held remote control for entering a viewing preference.9. The system of claim 1, further including a keyboard for entering aviewing preference.
 10. The system of claim 1, further including aninterface to a computer for entering the viewing preference.
 11. Thesystem of claim 1, further including an interface to a programpay-per-view service.
 12. The system of claim 1, further including aninterface to a program-ordering and billing service.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the primary digital video program includes a pluralityof pointers to a plurality of alternate inputs carrying supplementalinformation directly related to the program.
 14. The system of claim 1,further including a memory for storing input channel assignments,including the user-defined channel designations.
 15. The system of claim1, wherein the system controller is further operative to implement achannel-hopping scheme causing the video switching unit to use differentinputs at different times.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein: thesystem controller is further operative to implement a channel-hoppingscheme causing the video switching unit to use different inputs atdifferent times; and the scheme is known only to authorized viewers. 17.The system of claim 1, wherein system controller includes an MPEGdecoder.
 18. The system of claim 1, wherein system controller includes aprogram descrambler.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the supplementalinformation provides right- or left-eye information in conjunction witha stereoscopic broadcast.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein thesupplemental information provides sing-along lyrics to accompany music.